Stephen Warnock's hopes of leaving Aston Villa this month rest on the Midlands club lowering their demands for a substantial loan fee.

Warnock is eager to play first-team football elsewhere after being dropped from the Villa side following the 4-0 defeat by Manchester City last month. The England international has not been in the Villa squad since and has been training with the reserves.

Liverpool are keen to take Warnock back to Anfield, where he started his career before moving to Blackburn Rovers, and several other Premier League clubs have also expressed an interest in the 29-year-old.

Villa, however, are understood to be looking for a loan fee in excess of £500,000 as well as stipulating that the left-back's wages are covered in full. Liverpool have made it clear they would not be willing to meet those demands.